ERNAKULAM, ARCHDIOCESE OF. — Established on 21 Dec. 1923 as a metropolitan see for the Syro-Malabars, replacing an apostolic vicariate that had existed since 29 July 1896. The archdiocese extends its jurisdiction over the territories of the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin, of which latter Ernakulam is the capital; all these territories form part of Hindustan.
The archdiocese of Ernakulam, which depends on the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, has 246,547 faithful, distributed in 27 parishes, and within its territory possesses the diocesan seminary, 7 male religious houses and 14 female.
BIBL.: Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, *Statistiche e centri storici sulle gerarchie e sui fedeli di rito orientale*, Vatican City 1932, p. 234; *Servizio informazioni delle Chiese orientali*, 15 March 1947; *Annuario Pontificio*, 1949.
ERNAKULAM, ARCHDIOCESE OF: see VERAPOLY, ARCHDIOCESE OF.